(Newser)
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The Obama administration has dropped the phrase "war on terror" in reference to the conflict with al-Qaeda and other Islamic extremists, Reuters reports. "It's not being used," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who noted that there have been no official directives about the label. Many international observers have criticized the phrase as part of a "with-us-or-against-us" philosophy linked to military force and a broad-stroke attempt to demonize all Muslims.

Abandoning the Bush-era terminology "speaks for itself," said Clinton en route to the Netherlands for a UN-led conference on Afghanistan. She said she plans to use today's conference—which will be attended by high-level Iranian diplomats—to push for greater international cooperation on tackling Central Asia's narcotics trade.